Colombia records 10.9% growth in crude oil production

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Colombia has recorded a strong increase in crude oil production in February, despite continued rebel attacks on energy infrastructure, the government announced on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy reported that total crude production reached 997,581 barrels per day on average, marking a 10.9% increase compared to the same month last year, when production hummed along at 899,000 barrels per day. On March 10th of this year, production of crude climbed above 1 million barrels per day.

The increased production comes despite the continued terrorist attacks by rebel groups, which have interrupted production and transport of crude, natural gas, and other energy products in the south of Colombia and along the Venezuelan border to the east.

The FARC, Colombia’s longest-standing armed rebel group, has been responsible for an uptick in attacks on energy infrastructure since January 20th, when the group’s two month ceasefire terminated. In early February, the FARC attacked a construction site in Northern Colombia owned by state-directed oil firm Ecopetrol.

The Caño-Limon Cavenas pipeline also suffered a blitz of attacks in February. One of the country’s major pipelines, it stretches from central Colombia along Venezuela’s border and terminates on the Caribbean coast.

Meanwhile, A recent series of roadblocks in the southern Amazonian department of Putumayo has severely disrupted vital transporation channels for the energy industry.